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Friday, April 6, 2012

Attorney General Holder's Reply to Texas Judge

Dear Judge Smith, Judge Garza, and Judge Southwick:

This Court's letter of April 3, 2012 requested a response to questions raised at oral argument in this case. Physician Hospitals of America v. Sebelius. No. 11-40631. From the electronic recording of the argument, I understand the Court to have requested the views of the Department of Justice regarding judicial review of the constitutionality of Acts of Congress. The Court indicated that its inquiry was prompted by recent statements of the President.

The longstanding, historical position of the United States regarding judicial review of the constitutionality of federal legislation has not changed and was accurately stated by counsel for the government at oral argument in this case a few days ago. The Department has not in this litigation, nor in any other litigation of which I am aware, ever asked this or any other Court to reconsider or limit long-established precedent concerning judicial review of the constitutionality of federal legislation.

The government's brief cites jurisdictional bars to the instant suit and urges that plaintiffs' constitutional claims are insubstantial. See Appellee Br. of the United States at 17-38. At no point has the government suggested that the Court would lack authority to review plaintiffs' constitutional claims if the Court were to conclude that jurisdiction exists. The case has been fully briefed and argued, and it is ready for disposition. The question posed by the Court regarding judicial review does not concern any argument made in the government's brief or at oral argument in this case, and this letter should not be regarded as a supplemental brief.

1. The power of the courts to review the constitutionality of legislation is beyond dispute. See generally, e.g., Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Co. Accounting Oversight Bd., 130 S. Ct. 3138 (2010): F.C.C. v. Beach Communications. Inc., 508 U.S. 307 (1993). The Supreme Court resolved this question in Marbury v. Madison, 1 Cranch 137, 177-78 (1803). In that case, *2 the Court held that ‘”[i]t is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.” Marbury, 1 Cranch at 177.

The Supreme Court has further explained that this power may only be exercised in appropriate cases. “If a dispute is not a proper case or controversy, the courts have no business deciding it. or expounding the law in the course of doing so.” Daimler Chrysler Corp. v. Cuno, 547 U.S. 332. 341 (2006); see, e.g., Weinberger v. Salfi, 422 U.S. 749. 763-766 (1975) (addressing a statutory bar to jurisdiction). In the case before this Court - Physician Hospitals of America v. Sebelius, No. 11-40631 -we have argued that this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case. See Appellee Br. of the United States at 15-38.

Where a plaintiff properly invokes the jurisdiction of a court and presents a justiciable challenge, there is no dispute that courts properly review the constitutionality of Acts of Congress.

2. In considering such challenges. Acts of Congress are “presumptively constitutional.” Turner Broadcasting System. Inc. v. F.C.C., 507 U.S. 1301, 1301 (1993). and the Supreme Court has stressed that the presumption of constitutionality accorded to Acts of Congress is “strong.” United States v. Five Gambling Devices Labeled in Part “Mills. “ and Bearing Serial Nos. 593-221, 346 U.S. 441. 449 (1953); see. e.g., Gonzales v. Raich. 545 U.S. 1. 28 (2005) (noting that the “congressional judgment” at issue was “entitled to a strong presumption of validity”). The Supreme Court has explained: “This is not a mere polite gesture. It is a deference due to deliberate judgment by constitutional majorities of the two Houses of Congress that an Act is within their delegated power or is necessary and proper to execution of that power.” Five Gambling Devices Labeled in Part “Mills. “ and Bearing Serial Nos. 593-221, 346 U.S. at 449. In light of the presumption of constitutionality, it falls to the party seeking to overturn a federal law to show that it is clearly unconstitutional. See. e.g., Salazar v. Buono, 130 S. Ct. 1803, 1820 (2010) ( “Respect for a coordinate branch of Government forbids striking down an Act of Congress except upon a clear showing of unconstitutionality.”); Beach Communications, Inc., 508 U.S. at 314-15.

The Supreme Court has often acknowledged the appropriateness of reliance on the political branches” policy choices and judgments. See, e.g., Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New Eng., 546 U.S. 320, 329 (2006) (explaining that, in granting relief, the courts “try not to nullify more of a legislature's work than is necessary” because they recognize that “”[a] ruling of unconstitutionality frustrates the intent of the elected representatives of the people” ” (alteration in the original) (quoting Regan v. Time. Inc., 468 U.S. 641. 652 (1984) (plurality opinion))); Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., 512 U.S. at 665-66. The “Court accords “great *3 weight to the decisions of Congress”' in part because “[f]he Congress is a coequal branch of government whose Members take the same oath [judges] do to uphold the Constitution of the United States.” Rostker v. Goldberg, 453 U.S. 57, 64 (1981) (quoting Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. v. Democratic National Committee, All U.S. 94, 102 (1973)). These principles of deference are fully applicable when Congress legislates in the commercial sphere. The courts accord particular deference when evaluating the appropriateness of the means Congress has chosen to exercise its enumerated powers, including the Commerce Clause, to accomplish constitutional ends. See, e.g., NLRB v. Jones & Laaghlin Steel Corp., 301 U.S. 1, 32 (1937); McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316, 408 (1819). See also Thomas More Law Center v. Obama, 651 F.3d 529, 566 (6th Cir. 2011) (Opinion of Sutton, J.); Seven Sky v. Holder, 661 F.3d 1, 18-19 (D.C. Cir. 2011) (Opinion of Silberman, J.)

The President's remarks were fully consistent with the principles described herein.

1 comment:

For a Federal Judge to stray completely from the issues in the case and demand that a U.S. Attorney defend the political statements of the President is just another example of the tyranny and outrageous unethical conduct displayed by the political right in this country.

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"To all the friends and strangers and even enemies who answered the Great Roll Call when I was seized by rabid scum who tried to put me in prison."
-Hunter S. Thompson
“He that goes to law holds a wolf by the ears."
-Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy